They study the relief of South America in the 7th grade, so many have most likely heard about the Andes, Patagonia, the Amazonian lowlands, etc. Perhaps our article will be of interest not only to school students, but also to those who want to refresh their knowledge of the distant continent ... In it we will talk about the main landforms of South America.
Mainland geography
On the map, the continent is located below North America, connected with it by the narrow Isthmus of Panama. Most of it is located in the Southern and Western Hemispheres. Its shores are washed by the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
The area of \u200b\u200bSouth America is the fourth in the world and occupies 17 840 000 km 2. Its territory is home to 390 million people, there are 12 independent and 3 dependent states. The largest of them are: Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia and Peru. All of them, except for French Guiana, belong to the countries of Latin America. Colonists from Spain, France and Portugal played a huge, though not always positive, role in their development.
The relief forms on the mainland of South America are very diverse and represent both high mountains and medium-altitude plateaus and lowlands. From north to south, the continent stretches for 7350 kilometers, covering six climatic zones - from northern subequatorial to southern temperate. Most of the conditions are hot and very humid, and the temperature does not drop below +5 ° C.
The peculiar climate and relief of South America made it a record holder in some areas. Thus, the continent has the highest volcano, the world's largest river and the highest waterfall. And thanks to the large amount of precipitation, the mainland is the wettest on the planet.
Relief of South America
South America was once part of the continent of Gondwana along with Antarctica, Australia and Africa. After their separation from each other, it briefly turned into a huge island, until the Isthmus of Panama arose.
The landforms located on the mainland South America divide it into two large areas: flat-plateau in the east and mountainous in the west. The average height of the entire continent is approximately 600 meters.
The eastern part of South America is based on an ancient platform, so the local landscapes are predominantly flat. They are represented by the Amazonian, Orinoco and La Plata lowlands, the Patagonian plateau, the Brazilian and Guiana plateaus. In the extreme southeast is the Salinas-Chikas depression - the lowest point on the continent with a height of -42 meters.
The Andes mountains stretch in the west. These are young geological formations formed during relatively recent (about 50 million years ago) volcanic activity. However, the process of their formation is not finished, therefore volcanic eruptions and earthquakes can be observed even now.
Hills
In the relief of South America, there are several elevated regions called highlands and plateaus. One such area (the Central Andean Highlands) is located right in the middle of the Andes. Here volcanic plateaus are interspersed with flat plains, and the average height reaches 4000 meters.
The landforms in the east are much lower. There is located the vast Brazilian Highlands, covering about 5 million km 2. Its highest point is Mount Bandeira (2890 m), although in most of the territory it rises to an altitude of 200 to 900 meters. The highlands are flat areas with individual ridges of mountain ranges and plateaus with very steep, almost vertical slopes. Similar is the small Guiana Plateau in the north, which is part of the Brazilian Plateau in origin.
Lowlands
Low-lying plains cover a large part of the mainland, and occupy the area between the mountains and plateaus of South America. They are located in the places of deflections of the basement platform, which creates excellent conditions for the formation of swamps and rivers with deep valleys (Amazon, La Plata, Orinoco, Parana).
The Amazonian lowland is the largest on the continent and on the entire planet. It stretches in the north of the continent from the foot of the Andes to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. In the southeast, it is framed by the Brazilian Highlands.
The area of \u200b\u200bthe Amazonian lowland is 5 million km 2. Here flows the largest river on earth, the Amazon, along with numerous tributaries. In the west, the relief of the lowland is flat and even, in the east it is cut by crystalline rocks that emerge to the surface. The rivers in the eastern part of the Amazon are not as muddy as in the western, dotted with numerous rapids.
Huge tracts of lowland are swampy and covered with impenetrable jungles of humid equatorial forests. It is one of the least explored regions in the world, inhabited by anacondas, caimans, pumas, tapirs, armadillos, capybaras, mazas and other unique inhabitants.
Andean Cordillera
By origin, the Andes are part of the North American Cordilleras. They run along the entire western coast of the continent, across the territory of seven states, and are the longest mountain range in the world (9,000 km). This is the main watershed of the mainland, where the Amazon River originates, as well as the tributaries of the Orinoco, Paraguay, Parana, etc.
The Andes are the second highest mountain system. Its highest point is Mount Aconcagua in Argentina (6960.8 m). In terms of relief and other natural features, the Northern, Central and Southern Andes are distinguished. In general, the mountains consist of numerous meridional ridges parallel to each other, between which there are depressions, plateaus or plateaus. Some massifs have permanent snow and glaciers.
Islands and coasts
In the north, the outlines of the mainland are mostly simple, the coastline is not very indented. It does not form bays deeply protruding into the land and peninsulas strongly elongated into the sea. The shores are mostly smooth and only in the Venezuela region is there a cluster of small islands.
To the south, the situation is changing. The mainland is gradually narrowing, and its shores are dotted with coves, bays and lagoons. Along the coasts of Chile and Argentina, many islands adjoin South America. Only in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago there are more than 40 thousand of them.
Not all of them are inhabited, for example, the Falkland Islands. But many have fjords, mountains covered with glaciers, gorges and a huge variety of animals. That is why most of the southern coastal areas are included in national parks and even protected by UNESCO.
Minerals
The geological structure and the diversity of the relief of South America are reflected in its natural resources. The continent is especially rich in minerals, in its bowels you can find at least half of the periodic table.
The mountain ranges of the Andes contain iron, silver, copper, tin, polymetallic ores, as well as antimony, lead, gold, saltpeter, iodine, platinum and precious stones. Colombia is considered the leader in the extraction of emeralds, Chile takes the first positions in the world in the extraction of copper and molybdenum, Bolivia is famous for its tin reserves.
The troughs flanking the Andes contain deposits of oil, coal and natural gas. Oil is also rich in the ocean floor near the mainland and the vast plains in the east. In the Amazonian Lowland alone, proven oil reserves are about 9,000 million tons.
A powerful source of minerals is the Brazilian Highlands, completely located in Brazil. The country has large deposits of diamonds, zirconium, tantalum, mica, tungsten, and is the world leader in the extraction of niobium.
On the territory of Argentina - the second largest country on the continent, there are deposits of marble, granite, sulfur, brown coal, beryllium, uranium, tungsten, copper, natural gas and oil.
Conclusion
The relief of South America combines ancient geological formations and very young and active forms. Due to this, the landscapes of the continent are represented by mountains and volcanoes, plateaus and plateaus, lowlands and depressions. There are glaciers, fjords, deep river valleys, high waterfalls, canyons and a gorge. Such a variety of relief was reflected in the nature of the continent, making many of its objects a real property of the planet.
The bowels of South America, due to the unique relief, are exceptionally rich in deposits of iron and porphyry copper ores, ores of tin, antimony and other ores of ferrous, non-ferrous and rare metals, as well as silver, gold and platinum.
The troughs of the Andes, the territory of Venezuela and the Caribbean are rich in oil and natural gas. There are also small deposits of coal on the continent.
In addition to oil and precious metals, the bowels of South America are full of such riches as diamonds, emeralds and other precious and ornamental stones.
Features of the relief of South America and their impact on mineral deposits
It is customary to divide South America into two geologically different parts: the eastern, based on the ancient South American platform, with elevated territories in the Guiana and Brazilian highlands, and the western, along which the longest terrestrial Andes mountain range stretches. Therefore, the continent is rich in both minerals formed on the plains and plateaus, and rocks and minerals formed as a result of volcanic activity.
The Andes are rich in ores of ferrous and non-ferrous metals of metamorphic and magmatic origin, including zinc, tin, copper, iron, antimony, lead and others. Also in the mountains there is a mining of precious stones and metals (silver, gold, platinum).
The eastern highlands of the continent are rich in deposits of rare ores, from which zirconium, uranium, nickel, bismuth and titanium are mined, as well as in beryl (precious stone) deposits. The occurrence of ores and beryl is associated with volcanic activity and the release of magma to the surface.
In the platform depressions, intermontane and foothill depressions, vast deposits of oil and natural gas were formed. Due to the processes of weathering of the earth's crust, deposits of aluminum appeared in the bowels of the continent. And biochemical processes in a company with a desert climate "worked" on the droppings of seabirds, as a result of which deposits of Chilean nitrate appeared on the continent.
Mineral types in South America
Combustible minerals:
- coal (Colombia, Chile, Brazil, Argentina) - one of the most demanded energy resources in the world;
- oil (Caribbean) - a liquid oily substance, the occurrence of which is confined to continental depressions and outskirts;
- natural gas.
Ferrous metal ores
Iron (deposits in Venezuela). It is used for smelting steel and alloys, it is contained in the composition of such minerals as limonite, hematite, chamosite, magnetite, etc.
Manganese (deposits in Brazil). It is used in the smelting of alloyed iron and steel.
Chromium ore (stocks in Brazil). Chromium is an indispensable component of heat-resistant and stainless steel.
Non-ferrous metal ores
Represented by reserves of bauxite from which aluminum (appreciated for its lightness, hypoallergenicity and ease of processing), vanadium and tungsten ores.
There are huge deposits copper ore (copper is widely used in the electrical and mechanical engineering industries).
The bowels of the continent are rich lead (Peru) used in the automotive, construction and other fields, nickel(used for the production of nickel steel and various metal coatings), zinc, tin (The "tin belt" stretching through Bolivia), molybdenum, bismuth (the metal is mined directly from bismuth ore only in Bolivia), antimony (used for the production of fire retardants).
Noble metal ores
The continent is rich platinum and silver ores, as well as deposits gold... Precious metals are extremely resistant to corrosion and have a special shine in products, are used for the production of jewelry, expensive tableware and luxury goods, as well as in industry.
Ores of rare and rare earth metals
Niobium and tantalum - rare metals used for the production of high-strength alloys and metal-cutting tools. Rare earth metals are found on the continent in the composition lithium, niobium and beryllium ore.
Non-metallic minerals of the continent:
- sodium nitrate (Chile);
- native sulfur (Chile, Peru, Columlia, Venezuela);
- gypsum;
- rock salt;
- fluorites, etc.
- diamonds (Brazil, Venezuela, etc.);
- beryl, tourmaline and topaz - minerals formed in granite pegmatites (Brazil);
- amethyst (formed in quartz veins);
- agate (formed in Mesozoic basalts);
- emeralds (a large deposit in Colombia).
Gems:
Resources and large deposits of minerals
Consider briefly the main deposits of minerals in South America. Chile is the second largest producer of molybdenum in the world, has the world's largest reserves of sodium nitrate (about 300 million tons, a deposit in the Atacama Desert) and the largest reserves of copper on the continent.
Coal mining in South America is concentrated in Colombia in the area of \u200b\u200bthe huge El Serrejon coal mine, where the fossil is mined in an open way. The largest oil and gas basin - Maracaibo - is located in the territories of Colombia and Venezuela, which is the leading oil supplier on the continent. Also oil is produced in the territories of Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago. Venezuela accounts for 4.3% of world oil production.
Brazil, rich in rare ores and minerals, has 13% of the world's tantalum reserves, and is also the world's largest producer of raw materials from niobium (about 80% of the world's total).
Peru owns 11.4% of the world's copper reserves, and the continent as a whole has about 56 million tons of world iron ore reserves. The Andes account for some of the largest deposits of silver, molybdenum, zinc, tungsten and lead on Earth.
South America possesses truly enormous natural resources, both non-renewable and renewable and inexhaustible.
The category of non-renewable resources includes primarily minerals. Their distribution over the territory of the region obeys geological and tectonic laws, which make it possible to distinguish three large structural parts within South America.
The first, the largest in area, structural part is formed by the South American Platform, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Andes mountain range; it is based on the South American Plate. Very large basins of high-quality (65-70% iron) hematite and magnetite iron ores are genetically associated with the ancient shields of this platform, which surface in the region of the Brazilian and Guiana Plateau. The largest of them is located in Brazil, in the state of Minas Gerais, the name of which means "main mines". The deposits of this basin contain both rich and relatively poor iron ores, which are also mined. An example of this kind can be at least widely known back in the 19th century. Itabira deposit, which contains both very rich ores and ferruginous quartzites - itabirites.
In the 60s of the 20th century, another large iron ore basin in Brazil, Karajas, was explored and began to be developed, with ore reserves of 18 billion tons and an average iron content of 66%. Another largest basin is located in Venezuela, in the north of the Guiana Highlands. A significant iron ore deposit has recently been explored in Bolivia, on the western edge of the Brazilian Highlands.
Within the Brazilian and Guiana plateaus there are also large manganese deposits, already associated with the weathering crust of the crystalline basement. And on the wet outskirts of these plateaus, as a result of the latest weathering processes, very large deposits of bauxite have arisen, forming a vast bauxite-bearing province stretching across the territory of Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Brazil.
The second structural region of the Andes mountain belt, stretching along the Pacific coast of South America, is an area of \u200b\u200byoung folding, which is part of the Pacific ore (metallogenic) belt, framing the Pacific coast both in America and Asia. It is especially rich in a variety of ore minerals, which in most cases owe their origin to magmatic intrusions and ancient volcanism. Even an incomplete list of them includes copper, tin, iron, lead-zinc, molybdenum, tungsten, antimony ores, noble metal ores. However, in terms of size and importance, copper and tin ores stand out among them.
Porphyry copper deposits are very typical for the entire American segment of the Pacific ore belt. They stretch in an almost continuous strip from Canadian British Columbia to the southern regions of Chile. Within the Andes, they are explored in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile. But at the same time, about 2/3 of all reserves are in Chile. The average copper grade in Chilean ores is 1.6%, which is significantly higher than in most other countries.
Bolivia stands out in terms of tin ore reserves, where the tin belt stretches along the western slope of the Andes for a thousand kilometers. Among the numerous deposits of this belt, the most famous are Llagua and Potosi.
The Andes belt is also famous for some non-metallic minerals, among which the first place is occupied by saltpeter.
The best conditions for the formation of saltpeter deposits were in the Atacama Desert, where they were formed in dried up water bodies. Today, these deposits stretch for tens of kilometers with a layer thickness from several centimeters to several meters, and they are located at the very surface. The total reserves of nitrate in Chile are estimated at 250-300 million tons. This is approximately 98% of the world's reserves.
Many Andean countries are also famous for the extraction of various precious stones. First of all, this applies to Colombia, which stands out all over the world for the extraction of emeralds.
The third structural part is formed by the marginal and intermontane troughs of the Andes, filled with sedimentary deposits. It is with them that the oil and natural gas fields explored in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Argentina are connected. At the same time, Venezuela accounts for about half of the total oil reserves in the region. In turn, 4/5 of the country's reserves are concentrated in the Maracaibo basin, which is located in the intermontane tectonic depression of the same name.
Land resources are primarily in the Amazon, Orinoco and La Plata lowlands, where, moreover, there are still large tracts of unused land. By the size of the land fund per capita (more than 5 hectares) South America is second only to Australia and the CIS.
Water resources. In terms of the total river flow (10.5 thousand km3 per year), the region is somewhat inferior only to foreign Asia. Here is the most abundant river in the world - the Amazon, which annually brings about 7000 km3 of water into the ocean. In terms of river runoff per capita, Latin America surpasses foreign Europe, foreign Asia and Africa by five to eight times. To this should be added its hydropower potential, which is almost 1/4 of the world. South America has 280 large reservoirs with a total volume of about 900 km3.
Forest resources. In terms of the total forest area (1260 million hectares), South America ranks first in the world, and the average forest cover here reaches almost 50%. (How can you not recall the remark of Valentina Tereshkova that, according to observation from space, each continent has its own predominant color: Africa is yellow, Asia is dark brown, and South America is green.) Provision of forest resources per capita (2 , 2 ha) is still the highest here (the world average is 0.6 ha). We add that the forest vegetation in the region is represented mainly by selva - humid tropical forests, which are distinguished by an extraordinary diversity of species composition.
Agroclimatic resources. In most of the region, the sum of air temperatures for the period with temperatures above 10 ° C exceeds 80,000. In such conditions, thermophilic perennial and annual crops with the longest growing season - sugar cane, coffee, cocoa, rubber plants - ripen.
Features of the development of South America, and in particular the geological structure, largely determine the nature and distribution of minerals. On this continent, there are also ancient, exposed as a result of prolonged erosion, crystalline shields with a powerful weathering crust and a grandiose geosynclinal belt with intense ancient and modern volcanic activity, both intrusive and effusive. The identified structures are fraught with rich and diverse complexes of ore and non-metallic minerals.
Exogenous platform complex of minerals.
Significant areas on the mainland are occupied by syneclises filled with a thick stratum of sedimentary rocks, in which the formation of large ore deposits is unlikely.
In the anteclises, the destruction of Archean structures led to the washing out and redeposition of heavy metal compounds, primarily iron and manganese, which were already concentrated in the Proterozoic strata. The latter, under the influence of new intrusions, underwent metamorphization and are represented by shale formations, quartzites (itabirites), containing enormous reserves of iron ores, with g. metamorphic genesis. They became widespread in many places in the Brazilian and Guiana Highlands, especially large deposits are concentrated in the southern part of Serra do Espinhas, and on the northern slope of the Guiana Highlands. These ores contain from 50 to 70% iron.
The gold of the Guiana Highlands is of metamorphic origin. It is mined at eluvial placers. The favorable conditions for a long geological time contributed to the formation of a thick laterite weathering crust in these regions, which contains a large amount of iron and gold.
The products of ancient weathering and redeposition of silicate and carbonate minerals of primary rocks are also the largest deposits of manganese ores with a manganese content of up to 53%, located among the Proterozoic shale suite of gneisses and granites. They are located almost everywhere in the anteclises of the highlands, with the main foci in the extreme west in the Paraguay depression, and on the southeastern slope of the Guiana Highlands.
Deposits of bauxite are also associated with the decomposition products of bedrocks and the formation of an allite weathering crust, in terms of which South America is one of the first places. The main bauxite deposits are confined to the humid foothills of British Guiana and Suriname and to the Atlantic syneclise of the Brazilian Highlands. The weathering crust includes nickel ores (Goias Plateau).
Sedimentary origin are deposits of coal and lignites, which are found only in the Permian bog deposits, bordering the anteclises of the southern Brazilian Highlands. A significant lignite basin is located in the Western Amazon.
There are quite significant oil deposits on the eastern edge of the Patagonian platform and in the extreme south - in the Strait of Magellan, in the oceanic depressions in the northeast of the Brazilian plateau. In the fifties, oil was discovered in the depression of the central Amazon.
Endogenous platform genetic mineral complex.
In ancient shields, pegmatites are an important complex - where, in addition to the constituent parts - quartz, feldspar and mica, they include ores of rare earth, radioactive and trace metals, the pegmatite veins of the anteclise of the Brazilian Highlands contain ores of zirconium (Brazil holds the 3rd place in the world), titanium and thorium ... The granite pegmatites contain the richest ores of beryllium, lithium, tantalum and niobium, for which Brazil provides up to 20-30% of the total production. Among the gemstones, diamonds that once made up the glory of Brazil are now mined in limited quantities.
Only very rich deposits of agate are associated with the huge trap outpourings of the Parana plateau, the world's need for which is covered by Brazil and Uruguay.
Mineral resources of the geosynclinal belt.
Ore-bearing pneumatolytic and hydrothermal ore fossils are associated with ancient magmatism. The most numerous deposits are in the Hercynian structures. Associated with them is the "tin belt" of Bolivia, which stretches from north to south for 940 km. Deposits of tungsten, antimony, bismuth, silver, selenium are associated with it. The reserves of lead-zinc ores of northwestern Argentina and Bolivia are confined to the same belt. Large reserves of polymetallic and copper ores are found in the Central Cordillera.
The largest copper resources in southwestern Peru and western Chile are confined to magmatic massifs in western structures. Deposits of iron ore and gold in Northern Chile, mercury in the same place are associated with the introduction of intrusions in the belt of the Coastal Cordillera.
Large sulfur deposits are associated with the solfate activity of volcanoes. Of note are the significant deposits of emeralds in the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia.
Sedimentary deposits of the Andean system are associated with foothill and intermontane troughs and depressions; mainly oil deposits are concentrated here - in the Maracaibo basin, in the north of the Orinoco plains and in the Magdalena depression. There is oil in the eastern part, in the foredeep of the Andes. South America's potential oil reserves are very high.
A special group is formed by minerals, whose formation is associated with the desert climate in the Central Andes and on the Pacific slope. These are deposits of saltpeter, iodine, boron, lithium; and the specific climate was favorable for the accumulation of organic fertilizer - guano bird droppings on the coastal islands.
Deposits of saltpeter and iodine are associated with biochemical processes in dried up relict water bodies in Atacama, and borates and lithium are products of volcanic activity that accumulated in endless lakes (solar lakes of Chile and Argentina).
Minerals of South America East A. takes 1st place in the reserves of the hall. ores, ores of copper, beryllium, lithium, niobium, crystalline graphite, 2nd place in reserves of titanium, molybdenum (after North America), antimony, tin (after Asia), bauxite, tantalum, apatite (after Africa), 3 -th place in reserves of manganese ores, gold, phosphorites.
Energy raw materials. Within the framework of Pivd.A. and the adjacent waters of the well-known 51 oil and gas basins. Their total square. 8.1 million km?, Incl. 2 million km? water area. Prom. oil and gas content is established in 28 basins, oil and gas production is carried out in 25 of them. The overwhelming part of oil and gas reserves is concentrated in two basins: Marakaibskoe (44% of oil and 34% of gas) and Orinokskoe (36% of oil and 32% of gas). The productive horizons of these basins are associated with the sediments of the Cenozoic and Cretaceous. The main explored hydrocarbon reserves are concentrated in the depth interval. 1-3 km (70% of oil reserves and 80% of gas reserves). Among the countries of the continent, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Suriname, Chile and Ecuador have proven oil and gas reserves. Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil and Colombia have significant hydrocarbon reserves. By the end of the twentieth century. in Vost. More than 1,400 oils have been discovered in America. (140 marine) and more than 250 gas (40 marine) genera. Among them are unique in terms of reserves (over 1 billion tons) genera. Venezuelan oil - Bachaquero, Lagunillas, Tia Juana (Bolivar zone), a giant accumulation of heavy oils - "Orinoco Belt" (reserves of 4.2 billion tons), Lamar and Lama, with reserves of over 300 million tons, as well as unique deep-sea oil reserves. Brazil - Marlin (500 million tons of oil and 100 billion cubic meters of gas) and Albacora (342 million tons of oil and 150 billion cubic meters of gas).
General stocks coal of all types in the countries of Pivd.A. for 1998 apprx. 71.5 billion tons (including stone fuel approx. 75%). Explored reserves amount to 22.8 billion tons. Compared to other continents, this is quite small. According to the Statistical Review of World Energy, the Pivd.A. for 2000, they make up only 1% of the world. The largest total reserves are held by Brazil and Colombia, followed by Venezuela and Chile. Coal content is associated with deposits of a wide age range - from Devonian to Quaternary. The coal seams of the Permian (Brazil), Cretaceous (Colombia, Peru), and Paleogene-Neogene (Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, Argentina) are of major industrial importance. Permian coal deposits are widespread. in the cover of the Pivden-American platform, and the Mesozoic-Cenozoic - in the folded belt of the Andes. Of the greatest industrial importance are kam.-u. the basins of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina (Brazil), Bogota, Boyaca (Colombia), Zulia (Venezuela), Concepcion, Magellanes (Chile) and genera. Serrejon (Colombia) and Rio Turbio (Argentina). Burovug. basins (Bolivia, Brazil) are poorly developed. Medium and high-ash coal, mainly energetic. The proven reserves of uranium ores (in terms of metal) amount to 168.6 thousand tons (1998). The bulk of the reserves (91.1%) of the continent is concentrated in Brazil, the rest - in Argentina (8.6%) and Peru. Of great industrial importance are the Brazilian hydrothermal stockwork genera. porphyry type (Itataia, uranium content 0.01-0.2%; Lagoa-Real, 0.09-0.65%). Infiltration stratiforms play a subordinate role. childbirth. in sandstones with a uranium content of 0.1-0.2% (Sierra Pintada, Argentina). In Brazil, uranium mineralization is also found in gold-bearing conglomerates (Jacobina). Significant uranium resources have been found in uranium-bearing phosphorites of Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Chile (90 thousand tons), uranium-rich copper ores of Chile, and Brazilian carbonatites.
Ferrous metal ores. Hall confirmed reserves. ores amount to 16.2 billion tons (1998). OK. 70% of the continent's reserves are concentrated in Brazil, followed by Venezuela, Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay account for approx. 4%. The bulk of the stock is associated with childbirth. ferruginous quartzites, represented by bedded and lens bodies of magnetite-hematite ores (Fe 45-67%) in protoplatform depressions of the Brazilian platform. Among the largest are the basins and genera: Minas Gerais, Morro do Urucun, Serra do Carajas, San Isidro, Serra Bolivar, Serra Grande. Skarn genera are also known. (Fe 60%) magnetite-hematite ores (Marconi) and sedimentary (Fe 35-55%) gyotite-siderite ores (Pas del Rio).
Manganese ore reserves, are 281 million tons (1998), and are concentrated in the main. (64%) in childbirth. Brazil and Bolivia (32%), others - in Chile, Peru, Venezuela, Argentina, Colombia. Deposits of oxide oolitic iron-manganese ores (Mn 40-50%), represented by stratal and lenticular deposits (Morro do Urucun, Igarape Asu, Buritirama, Mutun), are of great industrial importance. Childbirth is also important. manganese hats (Mn 39-53%), occurring on Precambrian rocks (Serra do Navi, Morro da Mina).
Titanium ore reserves (in terms of TO2), are 90 million tons in rutile and 2.3 million tons in ilmenite, localized in Brazil (data for the 90s of the twentieth century). Titanium resources have been identified in bedrock ilmenite-titanomagnetite ores with a TO2 content of 18.5% (Campo Alegre de Lourdis), in complex anatase-perovskite-rutile ores in carbonatites containing thio 2 20-23.5%, Pb, Nb, TR (Salitri, 35 Mt Tio 2; tapirs, 40 Mt Tio 2; Catalan, 11 Mt TO2), as well as in placers (Mataraka). Some bauxite genera are characterized by a high content of Thio 2 (40%). Brazil. Revealed resources of titanium dioxide in indigenous and placer genera. Brazil, Venezuela, Uruguay, Argentina and Ecuador are estimated at 310 million tons.
Chromium ore reserves (20 million tons, 1998) are concentrated in Brazil, in particular in stratiform genera. Campo Formoso (cf. Cr2O3 content 21%). Resources of the continent - 108 million tons. chrome ores are found in Brazil (70 million tons) and Venezuela (38 million tons).
Non-ferrous metal ores. The total reserves of bauxite are 11.7 billion tons, incl. confirmed 5.8 billion tons (1998). Main the number of confirmed reserves of the continent is in the bowels of Brazil (67.2%), followed by: Guyana (12%), Suriname (9.9%), Venezuela (5.5%), as well as Colombia and French. Guiana. The bulk of the stock is associated with childbirth. laterite type.
Proven reserves vanadium ores are approx. 200 thousand tons (in terms of V 2 O 5) and are concentrated in Venezuela, Brazil, Chile.
Tungsten ore reserves (in terms of WO 3) are 174 thousand tons, incl. confirmed by 116 thousand tons (1998). The largest reserves are possessed by Bolivia (57% of the total reserves of the continent), Peru (21.8%), less significant Brazil and Argentina. More than 80% of the reserves are contained in vein quartz-tungsten (W, W-Sn, Sb-W-Sn) genera. Bolivia.
Gold ore reserves (in terms of metal) are 9017 tons, in confirmation 3543 tons (1998). The main part of the total reserves (42%) is concentrated in Brazil, Chile (19.8%), Argentina (11.4%), followed by Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Colombia. Gold reserves are also in Guyana, Ecuador, Suriname, French. Guiana. Common placer genera. The largest of which are Aspasu, Pasto, Tambo, Serra Peladi, Rio Tapajos, Aranca, etc. Deposits in volcanic rocks of ancient greenschist belts (Aras, Morro-Velho) are of the greatest industrial importance. Large reserves of gold are enclosed in gold-bearing conglomerates of genera. Jacobin. Hydrothermal vein genera are also of great industrial importance. gold-silver-copper ores of the Andean fold belt: El India, Guanaco, Andacoglio, El Callao, Botanamo, etc.
Total reserves of copper ores (in terms of metal) are approx. 300 million tons (block 32, 2% of the world), incl. confirmed 232.5 million tons (1998). Chile (70%) and Peru (15%) have the largest reserves. Significant reserves are concentrated in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia. Main the share in the stock is made up of genera. molybdenum-copper-porphyry type, the largest of which are: Chuquicamata, El Teniente, El Abra, Escondido, etc. Stratiforms of genera are less common. (Salobu, Jaguarari, Kurasa), as well as pyrite-polymetallic genera. in Chile, Peru and other countries.
Total reserves of molybdenum ores (in terms of metal) amount to 4.5 million tons (32% of the total world reserves without Russia), incl. confirmed 3.2 million tons (1998). The overwhelming part of the reserves (60%) is concentrated in Chile, others in Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador. Main childbirth. are represented by the molybdenum-copper-porphyry type, in the ores of which the Mo content is 0.014-0.03%.
Total reserves of nickel ores (in terms of metal) 5.2 million tons, incl. confirmed 2.3 million tons (1998). 61.5% total the continent's reserves are concentrated in Brazil, the rest - in Colombia (22%) and Venezuela (16.5%). Nickel reserves are contained in laterite nickel-cobalt genera. weathering crust of ultrabasic rocks, the largest of which are: Cerro Matos, Vermelu, Loma de Arrow, Nickelandia, Barri Alto, Santa Cruz.
Total cobalt reserves in laterite ores (Co 0.03-0.05%) of Colombia and Brazil are 50 thousand tons, including confirmed 24 thousand tons (1998).
Total reserves of tin ores (in terms of metal) are estimated at 3.7 million tons (35.4% of total world reserves), incl. confirmed by 2.5 million tons (1998). The share of placer genera. 48.2% of total reserves. Prom. Placers of cassiterite have been found in Bolivia and Brazil, where more than 80% of total placer reserves are concentrated in the latter. Brazilian alluvial placers form 15 large tin-bearing regions: Mapuera, Rondonia, Telis Piris, Rio Iriri, etc. OK. 50% of the reserves are contained in rich placers (compare the content of cassiterite in the sands 2 kg / m?) Pitinga deposit. Stocks of primary tin ores associated with genera. Bolivian belt. Childbirth. The predominant cassiterite-sulfide type is represented by Arseno pyrite-pyrotinovym ores with a Sn content of 0.3-0.8%, as well as tin-silver ores with an Sn content of 0.5-1.7%. Childbirths are found in Bolivia and Peru. cassiterite-silicate type (Sn 0.2-1.8%). In Bolivia, in the Kelguani region, there are also stratiform births. cassiterite - quartz ores (Sn 0.16-0.6%) of the "manto" type. There is also a well-known vein cassiterite (wolframite-quartz genus. Chokhlya). In areas of childbirth. Oruro, Potosi, Llagliagua are known large deposits of stockwork porphyry tin ores with a Sn content of 0.2-0.5%. The confirmed reserves of platinum group metals are 46 tons in terms of metal, of which 34 tons of platinum (1998) are contained in placer types. Colombia (Choco Pacifico, San Juan, Andagoda, Barbacoas) and Brazil. Wed the platinum content is 0.1 g / t, chromite, ilmenite, magnetite, and gold are present.
Total reserves of lead and zinc ores (in terms of metal, as of 1998), respectively, 7.4 million tons and 20.6 million tons, incl. confirmed 5 million tons and 9.2 million tons. the continent's reserves are concentrated in Peru (42% of total lead reserves and 44.4% of zinc) and Brazil (39.1% and 40.9%). Bolivia, Argentina, Venezuela, and Chile have significantly smaller reserves of lead and zinc. The largest deposits of lead-zinc stratiforms in carbonate and terrigenous rocks (Vazanti, with a Zn content of up to 45%); metasomatic, associated with skarns in carbonate and volcanogenic-sedimentary gs. (Aguilar, Pb 11.5%, Zn 16.3%, Ag 279 ppm; Cerro de Pasco, Pb 5%, Zn 12%, Cu 0.15%, Ag 70 ppm); vein lead-zinc in metamorphic, magmatic. and sedimentary rocks (Matilda, Pb 2%, Zn 18%, Ag 28 g / t; Morokocha, Bokira, etc.).
Total reserves of silver ores amount to 134.7 thousand tons, incl. confirmed 74 thousand tons (1988). They are enclosed in complex genera: pyrite-polymetallic and vein copper-polymetallic ores (Cerro de Pasco, 70-400 g / t, Casapalca), molybdenum-copper-porphyry ores (Cuahone, El Salvador), gold-silver (El India), tin polymetallic ores (Potosi, Oruro, Choka) and silver ores proper (Pulakayo, Kayaloma) with an Ag content of up to 550 g / t.
General reserves of antimony ores (in terms of metal) are 514 thousand tons, including 414 thousand tons confirmed. More than 80% of the total antimony reserves are concentrated in Bolivia (8.1% of the world's reserves, 1998). Childbirth. vein quartz-antimonite type are confined to the vaulted parts of anticlines within the Bolivian tin-ore belt. The largest deposits: Espiritu Santo, Karakota, Churkin, Tupisa.
Ridkisnometalichny ore. The reserves of beryllium ores (in terms of BeO) are: total - 450 thousand tons, confirmed - 46 thousand tons (1998). The main reserves are located in Brazil (84% of the total reserves).
Lithium ore reserves (in terms of Li2O) at the end of the twentieth century. were approx. 21 million tons (Approx. 88% of the world's resources as of 2002). Lithium reserves are associated with g.ch. with lithium brine (Li 2 O 0.2-0.3%) in Chile and Bolivia. There are deposits of complex lithium ores in Brazil. Chile holds the leading place in the world in terms of lithium reserves.
Niobium ore reserves (in terms of Ni 2 O 5) are: total - 3.6 million tons; confirmed - 3.3 million tons (1998). They are concentrated in Brazil and are approx. 35% of the world's reserves.
Tantalum reserves (in terms of Ho 2 O 5) are: total - 1400 t; confirmed - 900 tons (1998). They are concentrated in Brazil (about 1.2% of world reserves). Zircon deposits occur in nepheline syenites and placers in Brazil and Argentina. Brazil and Argentina have zircon reserves. The main reserves are in Brazil (1.9 million tons in terms of ZrO2 - as of 2002).
Mining and chemical raw materials. The total reserves of barite are 15.25 million tons, confirmed - 9.5 million tons (1998). Most of the reserves are located in Chile (52%), Peru (26%) and Brazil. The largest vein is actually barite, barite-quartz and barite-calcite ores with a BaSO4 content of 85-98%. Boric ore reserves (in terms of B2O3) are as follows: resources - 91 million tons, confirmed - 18 million tons (2002). Boron reserves in Vost. America accounts for 10.5% of the world, and resources - 19.4% of the world. The main reserves are enclosed in genera. Chile, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. Lacustrine deposits with a B2O3 concentration of 0.25-0.5% are of the greatest industrial importance. The reserves of potash salts (in terms of K2O) are: total - 230 million tons, confirmed - 75 million tons (1998). B.ch. reserves of the continent are concentrated in Brazil (piece of Sergili). The content of K2O is 17-23%. There are childbirth. in Chile and Argentina. Rock salt is found in Argentina, Colombia, Brazil. Native sulfur reserves in the 90s were: total - 115 million tons, confirmed - 47 million tons. Most of them are concentrated in 100 genera. Chile, others - in Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador. Volcanogenic genera. sulfur form the Andean sulfur-bearing province. The world's largest childbirth. sodium nitrate is located in Chile (250-300 million tons). Childbirth. localized in the Atacama Desert, within a narrow zone at the foot of the Coastal Range. Fluorite reserves: total - 12.15 million tons, confirmed - 9.1 million tons (1998). They are concentrated g.ch. in Brazil and Argentina. Phosphorite reserves (in terms of P2O5): total - 893 million tons, confirmed - 251 million tons (1998). Almost 80% of the reserves are concentrated in Peru. P2O5 content 5-25%. Deposits of granular phosphorites are found in Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia. Apatite reserves are: total - 35.5 million tons, confirmed - 32 million tons, and resources - 0.5 billion tons (1998). On the other. given resources are approx. 2 billion tons They are localized in the Brazilian apatite-bearing province, confined to the deep fault zones of the Brazilian Shield. P2O5 content 5-14%. Ores g.ch. complex.
Nonmetallic industrial raw materials. Diamond reserves of Pivd.A. are: natural - 11.8 million cara; jewelry - 5.4 million carats, resources - 87 million carats (1998). Alluvial placers are of industrial importance. Childbirth. diamonds from Brazil (block 90% of reserves), Venezuela, Colombia and Guyana. Chrysotile asbestos stocks are estimated at approx. 6 million tons of fiber, incl. confirmed 4 million tons (90s). The main reserves are concentrated in Brazil (82%). Others are in Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela. Large industries childbirth. piezo quartz and rock crystal are concentrated in Brazil. Confirmed reserves of crystalline graphite amount to 32.6 million tons (90s), of which 32.5 million tons. - In Brazil. The content of graphite carbon is up to 30%. Childbirth. muscovite on ter. Brazil are localized within the Brazilian mica region. Childbirth. muscovite also in Argentina, mica pegmatites in Bolivia, Guyana and Colombia. From nonmetallic d .. m-catch in different areas Pivd.A. identified numerous genera. clays, limestone, dolomite, magnesite, glass, etc. sands, marbles, granites, etc.
Precious and semi-precious stones. Brazil is famous for the world's largest childbirth. precious and ornamental stones: beryl, topaz, tourmaline, amethyst, agate. Childbirth is known in Colombia. emerald.
Mining
Countries Pivd.A. at the end of the twentieth century. occupied a leading position in the mining hall. ores, ores of copper, antimony, niobium and quartz, 2nd - ores of tin, tungsten, molybdenum and beryllium, 3rd - bauxite, ores of zinc, gold, platinum, diamonds, boron and sulfur. The share of Venezuela (oil and oil products, natural gas and ore) accounts for approx. 50% of the total cost of the forge. products of the continent, Brazil - approx. 20-25%, followed by Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Peru and Bolivia. The share of Guyana and Suriname is insignificant, but the horn. industry of these countries plays an important role in their economies. Most countries in the East. America has a multi-faceted horn. industry: in Brazil, approx. 30 mains types of mineral raw materials and fuels, in Argentina - approx. 20, Peru and Chile 15 each, Colombia 11, Bolivia 10. But only Brazil has a well-developed diversified forge. prom-stew. Other countries specialize in the extraction of a certain type or complex of raw materials, while other types of raw materials are mined in limited quantities. For basic types of mineral raw materials and fuels, mined on the continent (oil, ore, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, tin, molybdenum, niobium), is characterized by a high proportion of processing at the place of production, although a significant part of oil, bay. ores and bauxite are exported as a crude product. Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, partly Chile and Peru have developed basic industries, which necessitates the local consumption of significant quantities of energy raw materials, ferrous and non-ferrous metal ores, thereby limiting their export opportunities. Inland trade in mineral raw materials, due to the specifics of the economic development of countries, is limited, DOS. export volume goes to a wide international market. Main miner importers. the raw materials are the USA, Canada, Western Europe and Japan. Export items: oil and oil products (Venezuela, Ecuador), cam. coal (Colombia), iron (Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Chile) and manganese ores (Brazil), bauxite and alumina (Brazil, Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana), copper and base metals (Chile, Peru), tin (Brazil, Bolivia) , molybdenum (Chile), niobium (Brazil), etc. Countries North. Argentina import a significant amount of previously nonmetallic mineral raw materials — phosphates and potassium salts, asbestos, and some metals.